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Lloyd Rayney found not guilty of murder

MARK COLVIN: It's held a magnetic pull on readers, listeners and viewers in Western Australia for months, and now the Rayney murder trial has ended with the accused man walking free.

He's the prominent Perth barrister Lloyd Rayney, and a Supreme Court judge today found him not guilty of murdering his wife.

Corryn Rayney was last seen alive at a boot-scooting class in August 2007. Her body was found buried in a bush grave in Perth's Kings Park.

Lloyd Rayney has always denied any involvement in the death.

David Weber reports.

DAVID WEBER: Justice Brian Martin said he accepted that Corryn Rayney was assaulted out the front of her home in suburban Perth.

He said there was evidence she was sexually assaulted, and may have been attacked from behind. He said he believed she probably took her last breaths in Kings Park, where she may have been buried alive.

But he said the state's case against Lloyd Rayney was beset by improbabilities and uncertainties.

After about 25 minutes of the summary being read out, Mr Rayney smiled and turned to the public gallery. He showed little reaction after the judge actually said he'd found him not guilty.

Outside the court, Mr Rayney was critical of the investigation into his wife's death.

LLOYD RAYNEY: Five years ago, it's hard to imagine, it's half a decade that Corryn tragically died. It's been five years since Sarah and Caitlyn have been without their mum. They haven't been treated well by many people.

Apart from that, they still don't know, and we still don't know, what happened to Corryn, and that is a terrible tragedy and that's what I wanted to say today. That despite the best-funded investigation, despite unlimited, apparently, resources at the disposal of those people investigating, this is still unsolved, and that's an extremely hard thing for my family to accept.

DAVID WEBER: Justice Martin said Mr Rayney wasn't physically capable of digging the grave in Kings Park. Corryn Rayney was more than 10 kilograms heavier than Lloyd. He had suffered from significant back problems for many years. He did not exercise and was in a soft physical condition.

It was improbable for Lloyd Rayney to have engaged in the physical labour of the assault and burial, and to walk back to his home in Como, clean up, and then be awake and ready for work as if it was a normal day.

SHARON COUTINHO: We would like to thank the WA Police, in particular Chris Dawson and Paul Coombes, and the entire Dargan team, especially Carlos, Mark, Ian, Tara, Gavin, and Keith, for their unconditional support. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for their determination and perseverance over the last five years in seeking justice for Corryn.

Our gratitude and thanks also goes to Mr Agius and the prosecution team for finally giving Corryn a voice. Their diligence and tireless efforts are truly appreciated.

We are grateful for the tremendous support we have received from the wider community. Their words of kindness have been a great source of comfort.

We are also grateful for the comfort of the Victims Support staff who have looked after us over the last three months.

Our special thanks and love goes to all our family and friends who have stood by us through this tragedy. Their love and support has given us the strength to cope with our loss of our beloved Corryn.

We thank the media for respecting our privacy and our quest for seeking justice for Corryn will continue.

DAVID WEBER: Police would not comment. The prosecution has three weeks to lodge an appeal.